The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-10-08

pocrisy?
90 mother!" she prayed, throwing her
self upon her knees, ''if your pure spirit
can come near your wretched, sinful child,
guide me and help mel" And the choking
voice whispered words of bitter repentance,
till, purified by the impulse of prayer, the
promises of repentance and amendment were
made, not to the loved mediator, but sobbed
forth in lowly humility at the foot of the
Creators throne Only God could pardon
and sustain her, and as the prayers burst
from her overcharged heart, the wild re-
morse became subdued to lowly penitence,
the frantic fear to hopeful trust in amend
ment.
Mrs. Lee could scarcely believe her own
ears, when the next day, the plainly
dressed, pale girl came to her to plead for
pardon Even the hard, bitter anger melt
ed before the humble confession made her,
and she was reused from idle anger against
Anna, to an energetic attempt to rouse her
son from his despair.
1t was hard for nature so impulsive and
strong as Annals not to rush to the other
extreme in her life. Hard to resist the
desire to seclude herself from all society,
and become penitent in sackcloth and
ashes, but when the full heart at last was
opened to Aunt Belle, and she learned, in
sorrowful amazement, of the drama enacted
under her blind eyes, the motherly counsels
of tender Christian woman were held out
for her nieces support, and there was no
sudden revulsions to make the young girls
name the talk of the idle Gradually, yet
as rapidly as feasible, the avenues open for
charity were placed before Anna; long
walks, with relief in her hand for some
worthy object needing it, took the place of
intense study Tom found the old Anna
often beside him, when he came in tired
from the Office, and Uncle Ralphs home
evenings were once moro enlivened by the
ballads he loved, or the games of chess
which had seemed, before the past two
years, almost necessity. Study and prac-
tice were still continued, but many an hour,
before spent in weary searching after some
abstruse question, was now given to the
Bible, in simple, childlike faith; the fine
intellect that had revelled in the search for
knotty points of science, now bent in earn
est humility upon the seeking for Gods will,
and the energy wasted upon winning admi
ration spent now in a sincere attempt to
to lead a life of goodness and charity. So
ciety wondered where Miss Warrenton's
flirting propensities had vanished yet miss
ed nothing of the conversational talent, or
the sweet sounds of her voice, and the low
er who had been driven to desperation by
-. ,.oJl a~,,olt1, WAC rouSad hv bar humble
petitions, to shake off the temptation leading
him to ruin, and give his powers once more
to noble aims How could he resist the
woman he loved, when she bowed before
him, beseeching him to spare her the re-
morse of his ruin, telling him Of her own
blighted heart, tearing away from her own
sorrow the veil that had covered her humil-
iation, and imploring him to spare this
mortified, bleeding heart an additional pang!
In the hours of pain and penitence, Aunt
Belle was Annals greatest comfort. Even |
from her husband she veiled the confidence
the proud heart poured out for her ear, and
her gentle sympathy, her loving tenderness
smoothed many a rugged path, comforted
many a heartache. 1t was her encourage
m6ug bildU uTONt DdCk llC DiuCh ucopdlI ludb
will follow such violent reactions, her pa
thence that turned to good many bitter out
pourings of questioning penitence. The
peace that would not dwell in the weary
tossed brain and heart, slowly crept there,
as the life grew more self-devoted and earn
est, and the nights of anxious fear lest
she could never be forgiven, grew calm as
Al, = .,.,,,. 1roy,o haol, tba douht and aran
as little child, the gifted woman brought
her heart in prayer to Heaven.
'Seven years, to-day, since that scamp,
Lawrence, sailed for Europel"
Mr.. Wright scarcely knew that he had
spoken aloud, till he heard his words ech-
oed "Seven years p when he turned to face
the owner Of the voice He had closed his
desk, and was sitting in his counting-room
alone, preparatory to leaving it for the day,
so he was not very much delighted at see
ing before him face that evidently meant
business. An earnest, grave face, half
hidden in curly, brown beard, and a pair
of dark eyes that were looking at him in a
fixed gaze that was next door to a stare
"Will you be seated, sir ?" he said, NOV
ing a chair somewhat nearer the fire,
'In a moment, said the intruder, quiet
ly. "You do not recognize me, Mr..
Wright?"
II do not p
"My name is Everett, Horace Everett"
"And by what right do you dare show
your face in this room ?" cried Mr.. Wright,
passionately, as he sprang to his feet.
~ will tell you Here me quietly for
few moments, and then if you thrust me
out, | promise never to return"
"Well y
1t was half sullen, not very gracious
permission to speak, but Mr.. Wright re-
sumed his seat, and his visitor took the
other.
"You will deem me tedious at first, and
l can only beg your patience to hear me to
the end" said Horace Everett, in a grave
voice II was born poor, my parents hav-
ing occupied high position and held
wealth, but lost both From my very
babyhood, | heard repinings for the com
forts gone from my home, saw only sullen,
discontented faces, felt fully and bitterly
the curse Of poverty. As l grew older, my
father began to look upon me, his only |
child, to redeem his fallen fortunes; and 1
was daily told of the Importance of my ed
ucation as means Of accomplishing this |
desired object saw my mother always
ffetful and repining, my father downcast
and discontented, and learned to feel that
no earthly evil equalled poverty, no good
could make up for the loss Of riches. Be
fore l was seventeen both my parents died,
and was alone and penniless. Again, in
dark colors, the evils of poverty were
brought to my life, and I struggled on to
complete my education without starving to
death. l wrote for lawyers and by hard
trying, at last obtained a permanent situa-
ton in Mr.. Williams Office, to write, run
errands, and tend the Office, but with the
inestimahle of privilege of the use of his
library, and his fire and light at night.
When ] became man, and had passed my
examination and been admitted to the bar,
n